ABOUT THE PATAGONIA DIRT CRAFT PANT
The Dirt Craft Pants are made from a stretchy polyester and XLANCE blend material, with laser-cut venting at the thighs and behind the knees. A standard zipper and button close the pants, with a contoured elastic waistband to keep them in place. Patagonia uses a standard numbered waist size for the Dirt Craft Pants, and they feature no additional adjustability or belt loops.
Two zippered sized pockets are on either leg, about where cargo pockets would be. Each side consists of a regular pocket with a flap that allows you to access the side pockets on chamois like the Dirt Roamer Bib.
Patagonia offers eleven waist sizes in Dirt Craft Pants, from 28 to 44. The inseam seems to sit at roughly 32 inches, although Patagonia doesn’t specify. They retail for $149, with four color options including the crazy Rock Wash Forge Grey we tested.
THE DIRT
I should start by pointing out that these are definitely on the thinner side of mountain bike pants. While some might categorize the Dirt Craft Pants as a fairer weather item, I prefer lighter pants even for cold days. I run hot, and I’ll most likely overheat if I wear “winter” MTB pants.
The Patagonia Dirt Craft Pants were perfect for me on those cooler days. I remained comfortable, thanks to the pants’ ability to stretch and vent well. While I was fine wearing them in cooler weather, I could also see wearing them for bike park riding in the summer due to this stellar ventilation.
Some customer reviews on Patagonia’s website mentioned issues with the pockets — specifically, the “pass-through pocket access.” The concern was that items might fall out, because you can access your bibs through the pockets, which are essentially open at the top. While I understand the issue and thought about it once or twice, I never had that experience. That said, I don’t keep much in my pockets while I ride. If you’re storing a car key in there, you might want to consider hooking them on somehow for peace of mind.
Along with breathing well, the Dirt Craft Pants were very comfortable. Being on the more relaxed fit side of the spectrum, knee pads fit under them well, and I never felt as if my movement was restricted. While a thinner pant like the Dirt Craft is going to be more prone to damage if you take a spill, I really appreciate Patagonia’s repair policy on their apparel. Patagonia states on its website that most apparel repairs, like patching a blown-out knee, are free of charge. That’s pretty awesome, if you ask me.
I did struggle with the sizing. First, I wish Patagonia (and all other MTB pant manufacturers for that matter) would offer a short/long or short/medium/long option for their pant’s length. The Dirt Craft Pants were pretty long, which I wasn’t excited about. However, I saw some Gen Z kids cuffing their mountain bike pants, so I followed suit. I was good to go after a few cuffs on my 30-inch inseam legs (who am I kidding, 29-inch). Still, I’d prefer to have a tailored length option available.
Patagonia also doesn’t incorporate any adjustment for the waist other than a numeric size. I typically don’t like tight-fitting pants (MTB or regular), so I went with what I usually wear – a size 36. While this was initially okay, I had to pull the pants up if I put anything in the pockets. I continued to have to pull the Dirt Crafts up while riding. Fortunately, Patagonia was willing to send me another pair — 34 this time — and they have worked spectacularly. They’re still very comfortable despite the smaller waist.
It surprised me that so many customer reviews on Patagonia’s website labeled the Dirt Craft Pants as “true to size.” Perhaps I just like my pants more relaxed, but they seem to run on the larger side. Especially if you are between sizes, I would recommend sizing down.
The Wolf’s Last Word
If you can get the fit right on Patagonia’s Dirt Craft Pants, they are an excellent option. That said, once I sized down on the pants, I was a big fan — Gen Z cuffs and all. I also like Patagonia’s repair promise, which should have their apparel lasting a very long time. 
Price: $149
Website: Patagonia.com
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ABOUT THE WOLF
The local boy — Travis was born and raised in Bend, OR. Skateboarding consumed his life until his high school years (yes, he can still kickflip), but was replaced by mountain biking…then rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and finally back to mountain biking. After a stint in the big city, Travis returned home, trading a teaching career to be an okay mountain biker and above-average journalist. He is an outspoken 90s grunge fan, cornering poor souls in conversations about the meaning behind the lyrics of Alice In Chains’ “Would.” Most days, Travis hopes to be outside, whether that is on an early morning ride or a hike with his family (the best days include both).
Rank: Contributing Writer
Size: 5’8” / 172cm | 195lbs / 88kg
Social: @travis_reill_writes
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